LCBP2

[Martin]

oh whoopeee! £50 million squid for renewables grants through LCBP2 - but don't rush! it's not for private homes but things like charitable, community, or public sector projects........so far so good, BUT further examination of their website reveals something that smells very bad!
http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/index.jsp
Have a wander round, and you'll find that there are a few companies listed for each technology - using their products, you can get a grant - this is a closed list, drawn up by the LCBP - no other firms can get on that list!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a look at who's turbines you can get a grant on - Proven, Iskra, and two chocolate teapot manufacturers - Windsave and Swift........(smell a rat yet?)
Then if you look at the companies listed to provide solar hot water, two have NO experience whatsoever in the field..........British Gas for one! - (is that gas or a rat I can smell?)
Now I know why two turbine companies have been sadly remiss in their trade/customer relations for the last few months - they gave the impression they didn't give a damn..........you don't need pr if the government's just poured the money in your lap!

[Shirley]

I hate these closed list policies. I don't think it should be allowed.

It keeps prices artificially high and stops small companies taking a bite of the cherry.

YES there should be some way of keeping out the cowboys but this is the wrong way to do it.

[Martin]

many of the bally cowboys are on the list!

[Shirley]

many of the bally cowboys are on the list!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr - actually, that's really quite scary

[Shirley]

Actually - WHY are these companies on the list, and why do we, the British public, just accept that we should just buy from these people if we want a grant.

Do you think an online petition to open up this list to smaller companies might work??

[Martin]

not a snowball's! - there is a leading manufacturer of flat panels trying at the moment, but he's getting nowhere fast!
It makes a chap wonder who's on the square, and who was taught to be cautious
Me? - I'm laughing my head off - this is just proof of the utter depravity of our present government - we'll just tender for the jobs at around half to two thirds of what you'd get it for including grant............
-and that will be for superior products, service and fitting!

[Martin]

here's the story about the bloke having a go at them! http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=12498

[Shirley]

we'll just tender for the jobs at around half to two thirds of what you'd get it for including grant............
-and that will be for superior products, service and fitting!

And... will that price be a realistic figure of what one should be paying? Will you still make a profit at that?

[Martin]

yes!
Typical simple solar hot water system under grant scheme around £5-11,000
-£400 grant if they haven't run out (try again next year sir!)
Ours, using Clearskies approved, BS certified vacuum tube systems including new thermal store and Resol controller (the best made), - installed by fully certificated and insured tradesmen, and fully guaranteed, probably around £3 - £3,500!
And yes, we make a fair profit, not an exorbitant one!

[nathanbriggs]

Its not my job to defend the government but at least criticise them for the right things.

LCBP phase 2 is exactly what it says on the tin a public tier grant scheme, as such it only involves organisations large enough to cope with potential demand. How long will it take a 3 man band to fit solar water heating on 30,000 schools or 8,000 council offices?

As such it is open to large conglomerates who bid for 1,000's of installs at a fixed price - again how many small companies have either the resource or time to put together this type of public tender??

If you want to criticise pick the nice juicy target of LCBP phase 1 which IS aimed at small installers and domestic type installs:
why only 50 million i.e. less than £1 a house
why so much money spent on administration and approval why not fix that cost
and so on and so on (I'm sure Martin will add more ;-)

[Martin]

I accept that smaller companies may not have the capacity for mega-jobs, but many large, reputable companies HAVE been excluded.........

[camillitech]

I accept that smaller companies may not have the capacity for mega-jobs, but many large, reputable companies HAVE been excluded.........

smells of freemasonry to me

[Martin]

and two out of the four "turbine companies" on the list can't even deliver test models to the Warwick Wind trials, yet have free access to government (our) cash.........for machines which can NEVER pay back (let alone generate a "profit" to justify their manufacture in the first place!)
....wanders off shaking head, wondering if he should start rolling up his trouserleg, and disappearing every Thursday evening...............

[Martin]

obviously, the large companies work to the highest standards..........

-placed thus by a large company's "experienced surveyors"............
An absolute text book installation - in the art of where NOT to site a turbine!

[camillitech]

obviously, the large companies work to the highest standards..........

-placed thus by a large company's "experienced surveyors"............
An absolute text book installation - in the art of where NOT to site a turbine!

the only good thing i can see coming out of all this is that next year there will be hundreds of them on ebay so perhaps i can get one cheap and mount it on a proper mast in a windy spot. though i also predict that most insurance companies will load premiums or decline cover when these thing start bringing down chimneys and gable ends